Extreme rage/anger before stabilization?

September 20, 2026

Since my crash and updose, I have felt like a shell of myself with apathy and sadness. Very little emotional bandwidth other than crying from feeling like crap. I am on day 22 of my updose. Today I finally woke up with extreme rage/ anger. I feel my strength coming back but also feeling anxious about the amount of anger I have. Is this normal before stabilization?

Zoloft —50 mg to 15 mg — 8 years with a cold turkey and reinstatement in between— was liquid micro tapering, crashed at 14.275 mg and now holding at 15 mg.

8 Replies

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CatinaSep 20

Community AnchorEffexor

Sorry you're dealing with this Maria. This symptom is so hard to control! Yes, it's a common symptom that many people deal with. Have you read this yet? https://taper.community/resources/blog/rage-and-irritability-during-withdrawal https://taper.community/thread/6c9e7576-fde9-40d0-ac32-d5d5f755c390

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 17.28 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Synthroid - 25 mcg

“Your brain and body know how to heal. Trust the process and keep going.”

Please Note: I am not a healthcare professional. Any advice given is based on personal experience and that of others in the lay withdrawal community.

Maria A.Sep 20

LighthouseZoloft · active

Thank you Catina. I’m wondering if it’s just the last phase before I stabilize. Each day the symptoms are dropping off more and more so I do think I’m getting better. Just trying to find some hope that this will be over soon.

Zoloft —50 mg to 15 mg — 8 years with a cold turkey and reinstatement in between— was liquid micro tapering, crashed at 14.275 mg and now holding at 15 mg.

⭐

CatinaSep 20

Community AnchorEffexor

"Each day the symptoms are dropping off more and more so I do think I’m getting better." — @Maria A.

That's great to hear! You ARE stabilizing Maria...that is exactly what happens. I know it's hard to be patient, but time and patience are the greatest healers during this challenging journey. You'll get there, I can say that with confidence! 👍

Maria A.Sep 20

LighthouseZoloft · active

Thank you so much Catina. It is so hard to be patient. I just want my life back 😭

Zoloft —50 mg to 15 mg — 8 years with a cold turkey and reinstatement in between— was liquid micro tapering, crashed at 14.275 mg and now holding at 15 mg.

⭐

CatinaSep 20

Community AnchorEffexor

"It is so hard to be patient. I just want my life back 😭" — @Maria A.

I know it's hard, and I understand you want things to return to the way they were. You're still there, and you're life is still there - a bit altered temporarily - but still there underneath it all. I find that acceptance goes a long way and then adapting the best you can. ❤️

Maria A.Sep 20

LighthouseZoloft · active

Yes, you’re right. Thank you for your kindness and support. Hopefully this nightmare will end soon. Today was a better wave day considering my sleep wasn’t great last night.

Zoloft —50 mg to 15 mg — 8 years with a cold turkey and reinstatement in between— was liquid micro tapering, crashed at 14.275 mg and now holding at 15 mg.

⭐

CatinaSep 20

Community AnchorEffexor

"Today was a better wave day" — @Maria A.

That's great to hear! We have to acknowledge the victories - no matter how small - that remind us that healing is possible. 💝

anne noni mossOct 3

NavigatorPaxil · holding

@Maria A. ..I'm trying to find your "story" and why you are tapering. You recently wrote that you wish you never started. Forgive my ignorance about how to navigate this forum. I still don't know how to find things! Can you point me to it, or tell a bit more of your story if you haven't already? Thanks so much...only if you have the energy🫠

atypical in presentation of side effects, super sensitive to small doses and general delayed responder. never took a psych med that didn't' make me sick immediately with infections and restless legs. have never been able to tolerate being on them, but have never had support to get off so I've been bouncing back and forth. i don't like capital letters. sorry.

Paxil — 1 mg — 2 yrs — holding until Oct. 7 doc appt.
Seroquel — 50 — planning taper |
trileptal -75 planning taper
prasozin 1 mg planning taper

started my psych med saga in 2001 and wish I never had. I had some difficulties with sleep and anxiety, but NOTHING like what was in store for me after trying every med out there. My last treatment center promised to "get me totally off" in 2022 but it was a lie. They just switched drugs and added more and more in a desperate attempt to help me "stabilize," so they could call me a "success story" once insurance stopped paying. I agree with those who state that this industry needs to change. AND I'm working on not being resentful about my suffering because it doesn't help anyone.

been on an off cocktails since 2001. Most recent mixture, prescribed in 2024: 20 mg Paxil, 150 Trileptal, 50 Seroquel, 2 mg prasozin, (for PTSD/nightmares.)

immediately went to 1 mg prasozin, and after 3 months cut to 10 mg paxil. No felt effects. Then went to 5 about 3 months later, (though I didnt' keep track so I'm rusty.) No felt effects. So, I've roughly been on 5 mg for a year and a half.

Side effects always force to to start tapering RIGHT AWAY.

I didn't start keeping track of my Paxil taper until this year. I went from 3mg to 1 in 10 months, using a liquid Maudsley-ish slow taper. Again, no felt effects until now.

October 2026...sleeping less and feeling more sedated during the day. Having trouble managing my social life without getting over-stimulated. Must set boundaries according to my body and not my heart.

Holding 1 mg paxil until blood work done and evaluated, and to see if build a social life that doesn't make me lose sleep. Sounds silly as I type it, but actually, nothing is "silly" on this ride! Everything is WILD!!!! LOL

Keeping all other meds the same. Sorry so long.

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